Platform scale



(No Model.)

D. L. COLUMBIA.

PLATFORM SCALE.

Patented Aug. 5, 1884.

N. PETERS Fholo-Lillwgraphcr. wumn im o. c.

0 preferably of cast-iron,

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcri.

-DANA L. COLUMBIA, OF RAVENSW'OOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO E. & T. FAIRBANKS & (30., OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT.

PLATFORM -SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,122Jdated August 5,1884. Application filed October 10, 1883. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANA L. COLUMBIA, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ha venswood, in the county of Cook and State of 5 Illinois, hzwe invented a new and useful Improvement in Platform-Scales, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement applies to that part of platform-scales known as the corner-irons, which are supporting plates or brackets fixed diagonally in the corner of the platform pit or frame, and bolted to the framing-timbers, and from which are supported or suspended the fulcrum pivotal loops, in which the large levers underlying the platform and connected with the scale-beam are fulerumed.

My invention lies in an improved form and arrangement of corner-iron with a suspending link or loop, whereby the same are better adapted for shallow platform-pits, and whereby the construction of the parts is greatly strengthened and simplified, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings annexed, Figure 1 presents 5 a fragmentary plan view of a platformscales at the corner of the platform and its casing, showing my improved corner-iron in relation therewith. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the same parts. Fig. 3 is a plan of the improved corner-iron removed. Fig. 4 is an elevation thereof, with the suspendinglink and fulcrum-loop; and Fig. 5 is a crosssection thereof.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a indicates the strong fixed 5 timber framing which surrounds the top of the platform-pit, and I) b indicate the platform of the scales,which fits into the pit and rests on the underlying levers c c, which are fulcrumed at the corners of the fixed frame and con nected with each other and with the scalebeam in the usual manner.

Now,A indicates my improved corner-iron, which extends, as usual, diagonally across the corners of the fixed frame a, and is suitably bolted to the timbers of the frame. This corner-iron is, however, of peculiar form and arrangement, as will now appear-that is, referring to Figs. 3, 4:, and 5, it will be noted that the corner-iron is along and narrow plate, its under side being fiat, while its upper side hasa longitudinal hence the block with the link central web or flange, f, rising thereon to a height, say, equal to or greater than the width of the plate, which gives the plate a 1 -section through said flange, and greatly strengthens and stiffens the same. This flange f does not extend quite to the ends of the plate, but terminates, at some distance from the ends, in a gradually descending curve, which ends at flanges or shoulders g g, which extend diagonally across the ends of the plate at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the plate beyond these shoulders g g are fiat and broad,for1ning flat cars it h,adapted to fit snugly against the under side of the frametimbers a a, when the plate is fixed thereto by means of bolts 02. n, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while the shoulders g g abut against the upright sides of the timbers a, as indicated in Fig. 1, and by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus determine the proper diagonal position in which the corner'iron is to be secured to the timbers, and render the attachment of the same thereto accurate and firm, as will be readily understood. The center of the corneriron is strengthened by a cylindrical orslightlytapering boss, i, which rises from the base to the top of the flange f, .and on the top of this boss is mounted a pivotal or swiveling block, 7r, having a short round pintle or stem on its under side, which fits into a corresponding socket in the top of the boss, as seen best in Fig. 5, so that the block is thus capable of turning slightly on the boss, as will be understood. Across the top of the block is formed a semicircular groove, (see Figs. 3, i, and 5,) in which is socketed a suspending-link, B,which straddles and surrounds the middle of the corner-iron and depends below the same,as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, and in the lower depending bight of the link is suspended the fulcrumpivot loop at of ordinary form, in which the knife-edge fulcrum-pivots of the platform-levers c are pivoted, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that as the linkB bears upon and is suspended from the pivotal block k, B and its depending loop in are therefore swiveled on the corner-iron, and can thus adapt themselves to the correct position of the fulcrum-pivots of 1c each corner of the platform-casing a is pro vided with one of the corner-irons and suspending links or loops, in each one of which one of the four platform-levers is pivoted, according to the usual system of platform-scales, only one of these corners being shown in the drawings, as my invention does not concern the general mechanism of the scale. One end of the corner-iron is cast with a pintle-lug, 8, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) to receive the eye of the check-rods t, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will now be appreciated that my improved corner-iron and the suspendinglink, arranged as shown, present great advantages over the constructions heretofore adopted-1irst, the corner-iron is solid and iinperforate at the center, andiis thus very strong and not liable to spring or break, and is greatly re-enforced by the flanged and bossed construction described, whereas the construction. heretofore used is perforated through the center; secondly, the suspending-link B straddles the corner-iron, and is supported on the top of the samein the position most favorable to strength, which, furthermore, raises the position of suspension of thelink high above the base of the corner-iron, instead of being far below it, as heretofore, so that not only is this arrangement very strong and compact, but it requires less depth in the platform-pit, and enables shallow pits to be employed, and the lever mechanism to be brought closer up under the platform, which is adeeided advantage, as will be readily apparent. Furthermore, the construction of the corner-iron is much simpler and cheaper when formed as described than when formed as here tofore.

If desired ,the link I separate from the pivotloop might be dispensed with, and the pivot loop or might be formed so as to straddle and hang directly from the corner-iron; butI prefer the devices shown. Again, if desired, the swiveling block 70 might be omitted, and the top of the boss i might be grooved to receive the link 13 directly; but I prefer the construc tion shown.

I do not of course confine myself to the exnot form of the corner-iron illustrated and (leseribed,that is cast with a flat base-plate having the upright flange f, boss 2 and cars /l- 72, as the corner-iron maybe a simple girder-like bar or beam of solid, square, or any other crosssection without departing from the main features of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a scales, a corner-iron consisting of a girderdike beam or plate extended diagonally across the corner of the platlbrm-pit, in COillbination with a fulcrunr-suspending link or loop straddling said plate transversely and bearing upon and the same, and depending below the same to re ceive the lt'ulcrun1pivots,substantially as here in set forth.

2. In a scales, a corner-iron consisting of a short girder-like beam or plate having a solid. imperforate center, in combination with asuspending the plate and bearing upon the top thereof, and depending below the plate to receive the fulcrum of the platform-levers, sulistantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, with the corner iron or plate A, of the link B,straddlingthe same, and. the loop m,hung from said link below the plate,

and for the purpose set i'orth.

l. The combination, with the corner-iron A, of the pivotal block is, mounted thereon, and a suspendi ng fulcrum loop orl ink bearing upon said block and straddling the corner-iron and depending below the same, substantially as herein set forth.

5. The combination, with the corner-1' rou A, olthe pivotal bearing-block It, sus mnding-link B, and fulcrum-loop an, arranged and opiia'ating substantially as herein set forth.

DANA' L. CO LUD'IBIA.

XV i tn esses II. M. MUnDA-Y, T. Evnnu'r'r BROWN.

suspended from the top of link or loop straddling said center of 

